Begonia plant named ‘Betulia Bright Pink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Betulia Bright Pink’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; single to semi-double flowers that are bright red purple in color and held above the foliage; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Betulia Bright Pink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Betulia BrightPink’.

The new Begonia was discovered by the Inventor in a controlledenvironment in Ermelo, The Netherlands, in May, 2001, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘BetuliaPink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,598. The new Begonia wasobserved as a single plant in a group of flowering plants of the parentcultivar. The selection of this plant was based on its unique flowercoloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Ermelo, The Netherlands, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Betulia Bright Pink’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Betulia Bright Pink’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Betulia Bright Pink’ as anew and distinct Begonia:

-   -   1. Upright, compact and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Single to semi-double flowers that are bright red purple in        color and held above the foliage.    -   3. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new cultivar are most similar to plants of the parent, thecultivar Betulia Pink. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants ofthe cultivar Betulia Pink primarily in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Betulia Bright Pink’.

The photograph at the center of the sheet is a close-up view of theupper surfaces of developing and fully expanded flowers and leaves of‘Betulia Bright Pink’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of thelower surfaces of developing and fully expanded flowers and leaves of‘Betulia Bright Pink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Ermelo, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in aglass-covered greenhouse. Average day and night temperatures were about20° C. during the first three to four weeks then lowered to an averageday and night temperature of 19° C. until flowering. Four weeks afterplanting rooted cuttings in 12-cm containers, one week of longnyctoperiods of 16 hours was given followed by short nyctoperiods ofeight hours until flowering. Plants used for the photographs and thedescription were about four months old. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for typical flowering plants.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Betulia Bright    Pink.-   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of    Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Betulia Pink, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.    No. 12,598.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots.—About 40 days at temperatures of 20            to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, well-branched and            spreading. Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed            to form tubers.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Upright, compact and mounded plant habit,            inverted triangle; freely branching with good stem and stem            base strength. Flowers are single to semi-double and            abundant. Plants flower continuously.        -   Growth habit.—Moderate growth rate, vigorous growth habit.            Suitable for 11 to 15-cm containers. Under optimal            conditions, usually about four months are required to            produce proportional 13-cm potted plants from cuttings.            Vegetative shoots are formed at basal nodes and flowering            shoots are formed at upper nodes.        -   Plant height.—About 20 to 25 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 35 cm.        -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Developing leaves,            length: About 3.5 to 6 cm. Developing leaves, width: About            4.5 to 7 cm. Fully expanded leaves, length: About 9 to            12 cm. Fully expanded leaves, width: About 8 to 10 cm.            Shape: Asymmetrical, more or less reniform. Apex: Acuminate.            Base: Cordate. Margin: Doubly serrate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth. Venation pattern: Palmate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: 137A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: 191A to 191B. Fully expanded leaves,            upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:            191A to 191B. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.            Petiole length: About 1 to 7.5 cm. Petiole texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Petiole color, upper and            lower surfaces: 184B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Single to semi-double flowers with numerous            tepals arranged in axillary cymes. Usually four to seven            flowers per cyme. Many cymes in flower simultaneously.            Flowers positioned above the foliage. Flowering continuous.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower year around            regardless of nyctoperiod, however plants flower earlier and            more abundantly from mid-February until November in the            Northern Hemisphere.        -   Flowers.—Shape: Rounded. Diameter: About 4 to 5.5 cm. Depth            (height): About 2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 to 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 to            1.5 cm. Color: 53B.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Rounded flabellate.            Apex: Rounded. Margin, outer and inner tepals: Slightly            crenate. Quantity per flower: Usually about four to eight            per flower. Size: Outer tepals: Length: About 2.8 to 3 cm.            Width: About 2.4 to 2.6 cm. Inner tepals: Length: About 1.6            to 2.3 cm. Width: About 1.4 to 2.3 cm. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glabrous. Color: When            opening, outer and inner tepals, upper and lower surfaces:            57A. Fully opened, outer and inner tepals, upper surface:            61C; flower color does not fade with subsequent development.            Fully opened, outer and inner tepals, lower surface: 54A to            54B.        -   Flower bracts.—Arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape: Broadly            cordate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 139D blushed with close to 59A.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: Erect. Length: About 4 to 6 cm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: 166D.        -   Pedicels.—Angle: Erect. Length: About 5 to 25 mm. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: 180A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None            observed.        -   Seed.—Seed production has not been observed as reproductive            organs are not formed.-   Postproduction longevity: Individual flowers: Generally about 2 to 3    weeks. Whole plants: About 6 weeks under interior conditions.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Begonia has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Betulia BrightPink’, as illustrated and described.